Read Psalm 92-93
One of our daughters had quite the strong will when she was little. One time my wife told her to do something and she put one hand on her hip and with the other pointed at my wife and said, with a whole lot of sass, "I won't and you better watch your attitude". She was only three years old. My wife, the consummate rule follower, stood in shock and horror. Would she become the rebel pastor's kid we've heard stories about?
Well, I'm happy to report that the answer is "No". She graduates from high school this year. She loves Jesus and is very ministry-minded. But how did she get there? She had to learn that she wasn't the boss. I remember in that season as our "precious little heathen", when she began to grasp the desire to do right but still wanting it her way. After receiving yet another loving swat, she said to me in tears, "But daddy, I want to be the boss".
Don't you just love the honesty of a little child? If we were all honest with ourselves, we'd have to admit that we want to be the boss of our own lives. And we certainly live in a culture that says that's exactly what we should do. But as Christ followers, what are we to do? Well... follow. And while it goes against our bent, the best thing for our lives is to surrender control. Why? Because God is much better at leading our lives than we are.
In Psalm 93:1 the psalmist writes, "The LORD reigns; he is robed in majesty, the LORD is robed; he has put on strength as his belt. Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved." Why let God lead? Because He is majestic and strong. And He is ruling over the world. Verse two goes on to say that God is "everlasting". God has always existed. He has always been "the boss".
God's rule is eternal. The sooner we let go of the reigns, the sooner we discover how incredible it is to have a majestic and strong God lead our daily lives. God rules, but He does so as a loving Father. He will be loving yet firm with us, like I tried to be with my daughter. When everything within you cries, "But I want to be the boss", resist the temptation and remember how great the everlasting God is. And let go.
In what ways are you struggling with letting God lead? How could you demonstrate this week that He is the boss?
Are you taking time each day to acknowledge God's rule by praising Him for His attributes? Take time to praise Him for His majesty, strength and eternality.
Prayer for the day: "Lord, truly be the Lord of my life. I'm sorry for the times I have tried to rule my life. I know your ways are higher than my ways, so I relinquish control to you. In Jesus' name, amen."